Hot commodity : Turning molten gold into bars

Melted gold flows out of a smelter into a mould of a bar at a plant of gold refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus SA in the southern Swiss town of Mendrisio, March 1.

Pascal Lauener / Reuters

Melted gold flows out of a smelter into a mould of a bar at a plant of gold refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus SA in the southern Swiss town of Mendrisio, March 1.

Pascal Lauener / Reuters

A glowing gold bar of one kilogram falls out of a mould as a workers prepares to casts melted gold into the mould at a plant of refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus SA in the southern Swiss town of Mendrisio, March 1.(SWITZERLAND - Tags: BUSINESS)

Pascal Lauener / Reuters

A worker puts down a gold bar of one kilogram at a plant of refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus SA in the southern Swiss town of Mendrisio, March 1.

Pascal Lauener / Reuters

Gold bars of one kilogram each are placed on a table at a plant of gold refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus SA in the southern Swiss town of Mendrisio, March 1.